U.S. patent application number 17/680285 was filed with the patent office on 2022-06-09 for application processor including reconfigurable scaler and devices including the processor.
The applicant listed for this patent is Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Ha Na YANG, Sung Chul YOON.
Application Number | 20220180472 17/680285 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | |
Filed Date | 2022-06-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220180472 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
YOON; Sung Chul ; et
al. |
June 9, 2022 |
APPLICATION PROCESSOR INCLUDING RECONFIGURABLE SCALER AND DEVICES
INCLUDING THE PROCESSOR
Abstract
An application processor includes a reconfigurable hardware
scaler which includes dedicated circuits configured to perform
different scaling techniques, respectively and a shared circuit
configured to be shared by the dedicated circuits. One of the
different scaling techniques is performed by one of the dedicated
circuits and the shared circuit.
Inventors: |
YOON; Sung Chul;
(Hwaseong-si, KR) ; YANG; Ha Na; (Gunpo-si,
KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. |
Suwon-si |
|
KR |
|
|
Appl. No.: |
17/680285 |
Filed: |
February 24, 2022 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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17009761 |
Sep 1, 2020 |
11288768 |
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17680285 |
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16379775 |
Apr 9, 2019 |
10796409 |
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17009761 |
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14860701 |
Sep 21, 2015 |
10311545 |
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16379775 |
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International
Class: |
G06T 3/40 20060101
G06T003/40; G09G 5/00 20060101 G09G005/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 22, 2014 |
KR |
10-2014-0125793 |
Claims
1. A scaler device comprising: a memory configured to store first
pixels; a first scaler configured to vertically scale first pixels
and output the vertically scaled first pixels; a second scaler
configured to horizontally scale the vertically scaled first
pixels; and an analyzer configured to analyze a pattern of the
first pixels, and to generate a selection signal based on the
pattern of the first pixels.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser.
No. 17/009,761 filed Sep. 1, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S.
application Ser. No. 16/379,775 filed Apr. 9, 2019, which is a
continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/860,701, filed
on Sep. 21, 2015, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.
119(a) from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2014-0125793 filed on
Sep. 22, 2014, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by
reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Generally, a high-definition display (e.g., one that can
display ultra high-definition (UHD) images, such as 2160p, 4320p,
etc.) of a mobile communication device is supported by a mobile
application processor (AP). Often the mobile AP is configured to
process, in whole or part, the high-definition image.
[0003] Often, a mobile AP includes a scaler configured to convert
images or video signals from one display resolution to another. As
desired resolutions increase (e.g., from standard to ultra-high
definition or beyond), a scale ratio associated with a scaler is
increasing. As the scale ratio increases, the quality of the
resulting scaled images generally increases.
[0004] As a rule, once an integrated circuit (IC) that includes a
scaler (designed to perform a particular scaling technique) is
manufactured, it is impossible to change the scaler and the
technique employed by the scaler to process images. Therefore, a
hardware scaler is unable to take advantage of new scaling
techniques developed after the ICs initial manufacture.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0005] Embodiments of the disclosed subject matter relate to an
integrated circuit (IC), and more particularly, to an application
processor including a reconfigurable hardware scaler and devices
including the application processor.
SUMMARY
[0006] According to some embodiments of the disclosed subject
matter, there is provided an application processor including a
reconfigurable hardware scaler. The reconfigurable hardware scaler
includes dedicated circuits configured to perform different scaling
techniques, respectively and a shared circuit configured to be
shared by the dedicated circuits. One of the different scaling
techniques may be performed by one of the dedicated circuits and
the shared circuit.
[0007] Each of the dedicated circuits may include first coefficient
calculators each configured to generate coefficients corresponding
to one of the different scaling techniques. The shared circuit may
include a first computation circuit configured to vertically scale
first pixels using first coefficients, which are generated by a
first coefficient calculator selected from among the first
coefficient calculators, and to output vertically scaled pixels.
Each of the dedicated circuits may further include second
coefficient calculators each configured to generate coefficients
corresponding to one of the different scaling techniques. The
shared circuit may further include a second computation circuit
configured to horizontally scale the vertically scaled pixels using
second coefficients, which are generated by a second coefficient
calculator selected from among the second coefficient calculators,
and to output horizontally scaled pixels.
[0008] The shared circuit may further include an analyzer
configured to analyze a pattern of second pixels relevant to the
first pixels and to generate a selection signal for selecting the
first coefficient calculator and the second coefficient calculator
according to an analysis result. The second pixels may be pixels
corresponding to lines or some of the pixels corresponding to the
lines.
[0009] The application processor may further include a data storage
device configured to store data about the number of pixels to be
analyzed. The shared circuit may further include a line memory
configured to store the first pixels corresponding to lines. The
analyzer may select the first pixels stored in the line memory or
some of the first pixels as the second pixels based on the data,
analyze the pattern of the second pixels, and generate the
selection signal according to the analysis result.
[0010] The application processor may further include a data storage
device configured to store data about types of the scaling
techniques that can be used in the reconfigurable hardware scaler.
The analyzer may read the data and generate the selection signal
for selecting the first coefficient calculator and the second
coefficient calculator based on the data and the analysis result.
The application processor may further include a central processing
unit (CPU) configured to generate vertical scaling coefficients and
horizontal scaling coefficients and a data storage device
configured to store the vertical scaling coefficients and the
horizontal scaling coefficients generated by the CPU.
[0011] The first computation circuit may vertically scale the first
pixels using the vertical scaling coefficients instead of the first
coefficients and output the vertically scaled pixels. The second
computation circuit may horizontally scale the vertically scaled
pixels using the horizontal scaling coefficients instead of the
second coefficients and output the horizontally scaled pixels. The
number of the first pixels may be different from the number of the
first coefficients and the number of the vertically scaled pixels
may be different from the number of the second coefficients.
[0012] According to other embodiments of the disclosed subject
matter, there is provided a system on chip including a memory
configured to store an image including first pixels and an
application processor connected to the memory. The application
processor includes a DMA controller configured to read the first
pixels from the memory and a reconfigurable hardware scaler.
[0013] The reconfigurable hardware scaler may include dedicated
circuits configured to perform different scaling techniques,
respectively and a shared circuit configured to be shared by the
dedicated circuits. One of the different scaling techniques may be
performed by one of the dedicated circuits and the shared
circuit.
[0014] Each of the dedicated circuits may include first coefficient
calculators each configured to generate coefficients corresponding
to one of the different scaling techniques. The shared circuit may
include a first computation circuit configured to vertically scale
first pixels using first coefficients, which are generated by a
first coefficient calculator selected from among the first
coefficient calculators, and to output vertically scaled pixels.
Each of the dedicated circuits may further include second
coefficient calculators each configured to generate coefficients
corresponding to one of the different scaling techniques. The
shared circuit may further include a second computation circuit
configured to horizontally scale the vertically scaled pixels using
second coefficients, which are generated by a second coefficient
calculator selected from among the second coefficient calculators,
and to output horizontally scaled pixels.
[0015] According to further embodiments of the disclosed subject
matter, there is provided a data processing system including a
system on chip and a display. The system on chip includes a memory
configured to store an image including first pixels and an
application processor connected to the memory. The application
processor includes a DMA controller configured to read the first
pixels from the memory and a reconfigurable hardware scaler.
[0016] The reconfigurable hardware scaler includes dedicated
circuits configured to perform different scaling techniques,
respectively and a shared circuit configured to be shared by the
dedicated circuits. One of the different scaling techniques may be
performed by one of the dedicated circuits and the shared
circuit.
[0017] Each of the dedicated circuits may include first coefficient
calculators each configured to generate coefficients corresponding
to one of the different scaling techniques. The shared circuit may
include a first computation circuit configured to vertically scale
first pixels using first coefficients, which are generated by a
first coefficient calculator selected from among the first
coefficient calculators, and to output vertically scaled
pixels.
[0018] Each of the dedicated circuits may further include second
coefficient calculators each configured to generate coefficients
corresponding to one of the different scaling techniques. The
shared circuit may further include a second computation circuit
configured to horizontally scale the vertically scaled pixels using
second coefficients, which are generated by a second coefficient
calculator selected from among the second coefficient calculators,
and to output horizontally scaled pixels.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] The above and other features and advantages of the disclosed
subject matter will become more apparent by describing in detail
exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the attached
drawings in which:
[0020] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a data processing
system according to some embodiments of the disclosed subject
matter;
[0021] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a hardware scaler and a data
storage device according to some embodiments of the disclosed
subject matter;
[0022] FIG. 3 is a diagram of an embodiment of data stored in a
first data storage device illustrated in FIG. 2;
[0023] FIG. 4 is a diagram of an embodiment of data stored in a
second data storage device illustrated in FIG. 2;
[0024] FIG. 5 is a diagram of an embodiment of an image stored in a
line memory illustrated in FIG. 2 according to some embodiments of
the disclosed subject matter;
[0025] FIG. 6 is a detailed block diagram of an embodiment of a
vertical scaler and a horizontal scaler illustrated in FIG. 2;
[0026] FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram of an embodiment of a
computation circuit illustrated in FIG. 6;
[0027] FIG. 8 is a diagram of an embodiment of coefficients
generated by coefficient calculators illustrated in FIG. 6
according to some embodiments of the disclosed subject matter;
[0028] FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an embodiment of the operation of
the data processing system according to some embodiments of the
disclosed subject matter;
[0029] FIG. 10 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a hardware
scaler and a data storage device according to other embodiments of
the disclosed subject matter;
[0030] FIG. 11 is a diagram of an embodiment of data stored in a
third data storage device illustrated in FIG. 10;
[0031] FIG. 12 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a hardware
scaler and a data storage device according to still other
embodiments of the disclosed subject matter;
[0032] FIG. 13 is a detailed block diagram of an embodiment of a
vertical scaler and a horizontal scaler illustrated in FIG. 12;
[0033] FIG. 14 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a hardware
scaler and a data storage device according to further embodiments
of the disclosed subject matter; and
[0034] FIG. 15 is a detailed block diagram of an embodiment of a
vertical scaler and a horizontal scaler illustrated in FIG. 14.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0035] The disclosed subject matter now will be described more
fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
which embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may,
however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be
construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather,
these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be
thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the
invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, the size
and relative sizes of layers and regions may be exaggerated for
clarity. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.
[0036] It will be understood that when an element is referred to as
being "connected" or "coupled" to another element, it can be
directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening
elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred
to as being "directly connected" or "directly coupled" to another
element, there are no intervening elements present. As used herein,
the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more
of the associated listed items and may be abbreviated as "/".
[0037] It will be understood that, although the terms first,
second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these
elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only
used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first
signal could be termed a second signal, and, similarly, a second
signal could be termed a first signal without departing from the
teachings of the disclosure.
[0038] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing
particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of
the invention. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and
"the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood
that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising," or "includes"
and/or "including" when used in this specification, specify the
presence of stated features, regions, integers, steps, operations,
elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or
addition of one or more other features, regions, integers, steps,
operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
[0039] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and
scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly
understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this
invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such
as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be
interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their
meaning in the context of the relevant art and/or the present
application, and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly
formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
[0040] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a data processing
system 100 according to some embodiments of the disclosed subject
matter. Referring to FIG. 1, the data processing system 100 may
include a host 200, a memory 300, a display 410, and a camera 500.
For example, the memory 300 and/or the camera 500 may function as a
source of images to be processed by a scaler 140.
[0041] The data processing system 100 may include a personal
computer (PC), a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a workstation
computer, or a portable computing device. The portable computing
device may be a cellular phone, a smart phone, a tablet PC, a
personal digital assistant (PDA), an enterprise digital assistant
(EDA), a digital still camera, a digital video camera, a portable
multimedia player (PMP), a multimedia device, a personal navigation
device or portable navigation device (PND), a handheld game
console, a mobile internet device (MID), a wearable device (or a
wearable computer), an internet of things (IoT) device, an internet
of everything (IoE) device, a drone, or an e-book. It is understood
that the above are merely a few illustrative examples to which the
disclosed subject matter is not limited.
[0042] The host 200 may be implemented in an integrated circuit
(IC), a mother board, a system on chip (SoC), an application
processor (AP), or a mobile AP. When the host 200 is implemented in
a SoC, the host 200 and the memory 300 may be integrated into the
SoC. In the illustrated embodiment, the host 200 may be implemented
as an AP or a mobile AP.
[0043] The host 200 may include one or more of: a central
processing unit (CPU) 110, a direct memory access (DMA) controller
120, a data storage device 130, the scaler 140, a display
controller 150, a camera interface 160, and/or a user interface
170. The host 200 may also include a modem or network interface
(not shown) which may receive images and/or video transmitted from
other devices. In such an embodiment, an image output from the
modem network interface may be transmitted to the scaler 140 via
the memory 300, be directly transmitted to the scaler 140, or
transmitted to the scaler 140 via another path.
[0044] The CPU 110 may control the components 120, 130, 140, 150,
160, and 170 via at least one bus 101 and/or at least one direct
communication path. The DMA controller 120 may read or fetch an
image to be processed by the scaler 140 according to the control of
the CPU 110. In some embodiments, the DMA controller 120 may allow
the scaler 140 to access the memory 300 independently of the CPU
110.
[0045] The CPU 110 may store data for the operation of the scaler
140 in the data storage device 130. The data storage device 130 may
include a register (e.g., a special function registers (SFRs),
flip-flop, static random access memory (SRAM), etc.). For example,
the CPU 110 may store data for the operation of the scaler 140 in
the data storage device 130 based on user data (or user input)
transmitted via the user interface 170.
[0046] The scaler 140 may include a reconfigurable hardware scaler
that can support one of a plurality of different scaling techniques
or schemes depending upon a pattern of pixels to be processed. In
the illustrated embodiment, the pixels included in an image (or
image data, still image data, moving image data, stereoscopic data,
etc.) may include data in an RGB data format, YUV data format, or
YCbCr data format. It is understood that the above are merely a few
illustrative examples to which the disclosed subject matter is not
limited.
[0047] In various embodiments, the scaler 140, which is dynamically
reconfigurable so as to support one of a plurality of different
scaling techniques, may vertically and/or horizontally scale pixels
using the one of a plurality of different scaling techniques. The
scaler 140 may output the vertically and/or horizontally scaled
pixels. Accordingly, the reconfigurable scaler 140 may include
shared circuits that perform each of different scaling techniques
in common and/or one or more dedicated circuits which perform each
of the respective scaling techniques exclusively.
[0048] The display controller 150 may transmit, to the display 410,
an image corresponding to the scaled pixels. The display controller
150 may also transmit an image processed by the camera interface
160 to the display 410. The camera interface 160 may receive data
from the camera 500 and process the data. For example, the camera
interface 160 may receive data using camera serial interface (CSI).
It is understood that the above is merely one illustrative example
to which the disclosed subject matter is not limited.
[0049] The user interface 170 may process user data (or user input)
received from a user input device 420 and may transmit the
processed data to the bus 101. In some embodiments, the user input
device 420 may be implemented as, for example, a touch screen panel
or a voice recognition device. It is understood that the above are
merely a few illustrative examples to which the disclosed subject
matter is not limited.
[0050] The memory 300 may include volatile memory, non-volatile
memory, or a combination thereof. The volatile memory may include
random access memory (RAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), or static RAM
(SRAM). The non-volatile memory may include electrically erasable
programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), flash memory, magnetic
[0051] RAM (MRAM), spin-transfer torque MRAM, ferroelectric RAM
(FeRAM), phase-change RAM (PRAM), or resistive RAM (RRAM). The
memory 300 may be implemented as a hard disk drive (HDD), a smart
card, a secure digital (SD) card, a multimedia card (MMC), an
embedded MMC (eMMC), a perfect page NAND (PPN), a universal flash
storage (UFS), a solid state drive (SSD), or an embedded SSD
(eSSD). It is understood that the above are merely a few
illustrative examples to which the disclosed subject matter is not
limited.
[0052] The display 410 may display an image under the control of
the display controller 150. The display 410 may include a flat
panel display such as a thin film transistor-liquid crystal display
(TFT-LCD), a light emitting diode (LED) display, an organic LED
(OLED) display, an active matrix OLED (AMOLED) display, a flexible
display, or a transparent display. It is understood that the above
are merely a few illustrative examples to which the disclosed
subject matter is not limited.
[0053] In various embodiments, the camera 500 may be implemented as
a camera module including a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor
(CMOS) image sensor. It is understood that the above is merely one
illustrative example to which the disclosed subject matter is not
limited.
[0054] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a hardware scaler 140A and a
data storage device 130A according to some embodiments of the
disclosed subject matter.
[0055] Referring to FIG. 2, the hardware scaler 140A may include a
vertical scaler 141A, a line memory 143, an analyzer 145A, and a
horizontal scaler 147A. For convenience' sake in the description, a
CPU 110A, the DMA controller 120, and the memory 300 are
illustrated together with the hardware scaler 140A in FIG. 2. The
CPU 110A is an example of the CPU 110 illustrated in FIG. 1, the
data storage device 130A is an example of the data storage device
130 illustrated in FIG. 1, and the hardware scaler 140A is an
example of the scaler 140 illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0056] In various embodiments, part of the vertical scaler 141A may
be used as a shared circuit and the remaining part of the vertical
scaler 141A may be used as a dedicated circuit. In some
embodiments, the line memory 143 and the analyzer 145A may be used
as shared circuits.
[0057] The data storage device 130A may include a first data
storage device 130-1 and a second data storage device 130-2. The
first data storage device 130-1 may be implemented as a first SFR
130-1 and the second data storage device 130-2 may be implemented
as a second SFR 130-2. It is understood that the above is merely
one illustrative example to which the disclosed subject matter is
not limited.
[0058] The CPU 110A may store data about a plurality of scaling
techniques (or types of scaling techniques), which can be employed
by the hardware scaler 140A, in the first SFR 130-1. In addition,
the CPU 110A may store, in the second SFR 130-2, data that
indicates whether or not the scaler 140A is to employ or operate in
an adaptive change mode or operate in a no-change mode. In various
other embodiments, the CPU 110A may store data via other storage
mediums.
[0059] FIG. 3 is a diagram of data stored in the first SFR 130-1
illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a diagram of data stored in the
second SFR 130-2 illustrated in FIG. 2. For example, when the data
set by the CPU 110A in the second SFR 130-2 (illustrated by FIG. 4)
is "0", the analyzer 145A may output a selection signal (SEL)
instructing (or indicating) the scalers 141A and 147A to use a
scaling technique corresponding to the data set in the first SFR
130-1 (illustrated by FIG. 3). In various embodiments, the
selection signal SEL may include one or more signals or bits.
[0060] In the illustrated embodiment, the scaler 140A may be
configured to employ one of four possible scaling techniques (e.g.,
technique 1, technique 2, technique 3, technique 4, etc.). The CPU
110A may determine which technique is to be employed or used for
scaling. The CPU 110A may store this determination in the SFR
130-1, as illustrated by FIG. 3. Likewise, the CPU 110A may
indicate, via the SFR 130-2, that one of the fixed techniques is to
be employed.
[0061] In another embodiment, an adaptive technique may be employed
(e.g., an SFR 130-2 value of 1). Such an adaptive technique is
described in more detail below.
[0062] FIG. 6 is a detailed block diagram of the vertical scaler
141A and the horizontal scaler 147A illustrated in FIG. 2. For
convenience' sake in the description, it is assumed that four types
of data can be stored in the first SFR 130-1, the vertical scaler
141A may include four coefficient calculators 141-2 through 141-5,
and the horizontal scaler 147A may include four coefficient
calculators 147-2 through 147-5 in the embodiments illustrated in
FIGS. 3 and 4. However, the disclosed subject matter is not
restricted to the type of data that can be stored in the first SFR
130-1, the number of coefficient calculators included in the
vertical scaler 141A, and/or the number of coefficient calculators
included in the horizontal scaler 147A.
[0063] Each of pair of the coefficient calculators 141-2 and 147-2,
141-3 and 147-3, 141-4 and 147-4, and 141-5 and 147-5 may be used
as a dedicated circuit for performing a corresponding technique.
For example, when data stored in the first SFR 130-1 is "00" and
data stored in the second SFR 130-2 is "0", the scalers 141A and
147A scale pixels vertically and horizontally using coefficients
generated by the first coefficient calculators 141-2 and 147-2
illustrated in FIG. 6. In such an embodiment, the hardware scaler
140A scales the pixels vertically and horizontally using a first
scaling technique during a single frame. The first coefficient
calculators 141-2 and 147-2 may form a dedicated circuit to perform
the first scaling technique.
[0064] In the illustrated embodiment, when the data stored in the
first SFR 130-1 is "01" and the data stored in the second SFR 130-2
is "0", the scalers 141A and 147A scale pixels vertically and
horizontally using coefficients generated by the second coefficient
calculators 141-3 and 147-3 illustrated in FIG. 6. In such an
embodiment, the hardware scaler 140A scales the pixels vertically
and horizontally using a second scaling technique during a single
frame. The second coefficient calculators 141-3 and 147-3 may form
a dedicated circuit to perform the second scaling technique.
[0065] In the illustrated embodiment, when the data stored in the
first SFR 130-1 is "10" and the data stored in the second SFR 130-2
is "0", the scalers 141A and 147A scale pixels vertically and
horizontally using coefficients generated by the third coefficient
calculators 141-4 and 147-4 illustrated in FIG. 6. In such an
embodiment, the hardware scaler 140A scales the pixels vertically
and horizontally using a third scaling technique during a single
frame. The third coefficient calculators 141-4 and 147-4 may form a
dedicated circuit to perform the third scaling technique.
[0066] In the illustrated embodiment, when the data stored in the
first SFR 130-1 is "11" and the data stored in the second SFR 130-2
is "0", the scalers 141A and 147A scale pixels vertically and
horizontally using coefficients generated by the fourth coefficient
calculators 141-5 and 147-5 illustrated in FIG. 6. In such an
embodiment, the hardware scaler 140A scales the pixels vertically
and horizontally using a fourth scaling technique during a single
frame. The fourth coefficient calculators 141-5 and 147-5 may form
a dedicated circuit to perform the fourth scaling technique. As
described above, when data stored in the second SFR 130-2 is "0",
the analyzer 145A used as a shared circuit does not analyze the
pattern of pixels stored in the line memory 143.
[0067] However, when the data stored in the second SFR 130-2 is
"1", the analyzer 145A analyzes the pattern of pixels stored in the
line memory 143 and generates the selection signal SEL according to
the analysis result. For example, when the data stored in the first
SFR 130-1 are "00", "01", "10", and "11" and the data stored in the
second SFR 130-2 is "1", the analyzer 145A analyzes the pattern of
pixels stored in the line memory 143 and generates the selection
signal SEL according to the analysis result. Accordingly, each of
the scalers 141A and 147A selects one among four coefficient
calculators 141-2 through 141-5 or 147-2 through 147-5 based on the
selection signal SEL.
[0068] Hereinafter, the operation of a part 100A of the data
processing system 100 will be described in detail with reference to
FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 on the assumption that data stored in
the first SFR 130-1 equals "00", "01", "10", or "11 and data stored
in the second SFR 130-2 is "1". While the examples herein discuss a
SFR 130-1 of 2-bits or 4 techniques, it is understood that the
above are merely a few illustrative examples to which the disclosed
subject matter is not limited.
[0069] Referring to FIG. 2, the DMA controller 120 may read an
image IM from the memory 300, store the image IM in an internal
buffer (or memory), and transmit pixels ISP to be processed by the
hardware scaler 140A. Alternatively, the DMA controller 120 may
read the image IM from the memory 300 and transmit pixels ISP
corresponding to the image IM to the hardware scaler 140A. In
various embodiments, the DMA controller 120 may transmit the pixels
ISP corresponding to the image IM to the hardware scaler 140A on
the fly or as needed by the hardware scaler 140A.
[0070] In the illustrated embodiment, the vertical scaler 141A
transmits the pixels ISP to the line memory 143. In one embodiment,
illustrated by FIG. 6, a first control circuit 141-1A included in
the vertical scaler 141A may transmit the pixels ISP to the line
memory 143.
[0071] The line memory 143 may store pixels corresponding to a
plurality of lines. The analyzer 145A determines whether to analyze
the pattern of the pixels stored in the line memory 143 based on
the data stored in the first SFR 130-1 and the data stored in the
second SFR 130-2.
[0072] Since the data stored in the second SFR 130-2 is "1"
according to the above-described assumption, the analyzer 145A
analyzes the pattern of the pixels stored in the line memory 143.
The analyzer 145A generates the selection signal SEL based on the
analysis result and the data stored in the first SFR 130-1.
[0073] For example, when the pattern of the pixels is analyzed as a
first pattern and if use (or usage) data for the first coefficient
calculator 141-2, which performs the first scaling technique
corresponding to the first pattern, is set in the first SFR 130-1;
the analyzer 145A generates the selection signal SEL instructing to
enable the first coefficient calculator 141-2.
[0074] If the pattern of the pixels is analyzed as a second pattern
different from the first pattern and when use (or usage) data for
the second coefficient calculator 141-3, which performs the second
scaling technique corresponding to the second pattern, is set in
the first SFR 130-1; the analyzer 145A generates the selection
signal SEL instructing to enable the second coefficient calculator
141-3.
[0075] If the pattern of the pixels is analyzed as a third pattern
different from the second pattern and when use data for the third
coefficient calculator 141-4, which performs the third scaling
technique corresponding to the third pattern, is set in the first
SFR 130-1; the analyzer 145A generates the selection signal SEL
instructing to enable the third coefficient calculator 141-4.
[0076] If the pattern of the pixels is analyzed as a fourth pattern
different from the third pattern and when use data for the fourth
coefficient calculator 141-5, which performs the fourth scaling
technique corresponding to the fourth pattern, is set in the first
SFR 130-1; the analyzer 145A generates the selection signal SEL
instructing to enable the fourth coefficient calculator 141-5.
[0077] In some embodiments, if the analyzer 145A outputs the
selection signal SEL instructing the first control circuit 141-1A
to enable the first coefficient calculator 141-2, the first control
circuit 141-1A reads the pixels ISP from the line memory 143 and
transmits the pixels ISP to a first computation circuit 141-6A. In
such an embodiment, both of the circuits 141-1A and 141-6A may be
commonly shared between the various techniques.
[0078] The first control circuit 141-1A transmits an enable signal
EN1 to the coefficient calculators 141-2 through 141-5. In one
embodiment, the enable signal EN1 may indicate that only the first
coefficient calculator 141-2 is to be enabled. Accordingly, the
coefficient calculators 141-3 through 141-5 may be disabled. The
enabled first coefficient calculator 141-2 may generate
coefficients C1 through C8 for the first scaling technique. The
first computation circuit 141-6A receives the pixels ISP and the
coefficients C1 through C8, vertically scales the pixels ISP using
the coefficients C1 through C8, and transmits vertically scaled
pixels VSP to the horizontal scaler 147A.
[0079] The analyzer 145A may then output the selection signal SEL
to a second control circuit 147-1A. This selection signal SEL may
enable the first coefficient calculator 147-2. The second control
circuit 147-1A may transmit the vertically scaled pixels VSP to a
second computation circuit 147-6A. Again, both of the circuits
147-1A and 147-6A may be used as shared circuits.
[0080] The second control circuit 147-1A transmits an enable signal
EN2 to the coefficient calculators 147-2 through 147-5. In the
illustrated embodiment, the enable signal EN2 may enable the first
coefficient calculator 147-2. Accordingly, among the coefficient
calculators 147-2 through 147-5 only the first coefficient
calculator 147-2 may be enabled. In such an embodiment, the first
coefficient calculator 147-2 generates the coefficients C1 through
C8 for the first scaling technique. The second computation circuit
147-6A receives the vertically scaled pixels VSP and the
coefficients C1 through C8, horizontally scales the vertically
scaled pixels VSP using the coefficients Cl through C8, and
transmits horizontally scaled pixels HSP.
[0081] FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram of the first computation
circuit 141-6A illustrated in FIG. 6. It is assumed that the first
computation circuit 141-6A is an 8-tap filter, as shown in FIG. 7.
The first computation circuit 141-6A includes eight multipliers M1
through M8 and seven adders AD1 through AD7. The first computation
circuit 141-6A illustrated in FIG. 7 is just an example and the
disclosed subject matter is not restricted to this example.
[0082] FIG. 8 is a diagram of the coefficients C1 through C8
generated by the coefficient calculators 141-2 through 141-5
illustrated in FIG. 6 according to some embodiments of the
disclosed subject matter. It is assumed that the first coefficient
calculator 141-2 generates eight coefficients C1 through C8 for the
first scaling technique, the second coefficient calculator 141-3
generates four coefficients C1, C3, C5, and C7 for the second
scaling technique, the third coefficient calculator 141-4 generates
four coefficients C1 through C4 for the third scaling technique,
and the fourth coefficient calculator 141-5 generates four
coefficients C5 through C8 for the fourth scaling technique. In
addition, it is assumed that the second coefficient calculator
141-3 generates four coefficients C2, C4, C6, and C8 determined by
default, the third coefficient calculator 141-4 generates four
coefficients C5 through C8 determined by default, and the fourth
coefficient calculator 141-5 generates four coefficients C1 through
C4 determined by default. It is understood that the above are
merely a few illustrative examples to which the disclosed subject
matter is not limited.
[0083] Although the structure and operations of the second
computation circuit 147-6A may be the same as or different from
those of the first computation circuit 141-6A, it is assumed that
the structure and operations of the second computation circuit
147-6A are substantially the same as those of the first computation
circuit 141-6A for convenience' sake in the description.
[0084] Although the structure and operations of the coefficient
calculator 147-2 may be the same as or different from those of the
corresponding coefficient calculator 141-2, it is assumed that the
structure and operations of the coefficient calculator 147-2 are
substantially the same as those of the coefficient calculator 141-2
for convenience' sake in the description. Although the structure
and operations of the coefficient calculator 147-3 may be the same
as or different from those of the corresponding coefficient
calculator 141-3, it is assumed that the structure and operations
of the coefficient calculator 147-3 are substantially the same as
those of the coefficient calculator 141-3 for convenience' sake in
the description. Although the structure and operations of the
coefficient calculator 147-4 may be the same as or different from
those of the corresponding coefficient calculator 141-4, it is
assumed that the structure and operations of the coefficient
calculator 147-4 are substantially the same as those of the
coefficient calculator 141-4 for convenience' sake in the
description. Although the structure and operations of the
coefficient calculator 147-5 may be the same as or different from
those of the corresponding coefficient calculator 141-5, it is
assumed that the structure and operations of the coefficient
calculator 147-5 are substantially the same as those of the
coefficient calculator 141-5 for convenience' sake in the
description.
[0085] In some embodiments, the control circuits 141-1A and 147-1A
and the computation circuits 141-6A and 147-6A may be included in a
shared circuit. At least some of the components M1 through M8 and
AD1 through AD7 included in each of the computation circuits 141-6A
and 147-6A may not be used depending upon the selected scaling
technique.
[0086] The coefficient calculators 141-2 and 147-2 are included in
a first dedicated circuit for performing the first scaling
technique. The coefficient calculators 141-3 and 147-3 are included
in a second dedicated circuit for performing the second scaling
technique. The coefficient calculators 141-4 and 147-4 are included
in a third dedicated circuit for performing the third scaling
technique. The coefficient calculators 141-5 and 147-5 are included
in a fourth dedicated circuit for performing the fourth scaling
technique.
[0087] In other embodiments, when the analyzer 145A outputs, to the
first control circuit 141-1A, the selection signal SEL that
instructs the enablement of the fourth coefficient calculator
141-5, the first control circuit 141-1A reads the pixels ISP from
the line memory 143 and transmits the pixels ISP to the first
computation circuit 141-6A.
[0088] The first control circuit 141-1A transmits the enable signal
EN1 to the coefficient calculators 141-2 through 141-5. However, in
such an embodiment, the enable signal EN1 indicates that the fourth
coefficient calculator 141-5 is to be enabled. Accordingly, the
fourth coefficient calculator 141-5 generates the coefficients C5
through C8 for the fourth scaling technique. The first computation
circuit 141-6A receives the pixels ISP and the coefficients C5
through C8, vertically scales the pixels ISP using the coefficients
C5 through C8, and transmits the vertically scaled pixels VSP to
the horizontal scaler 147A.
[0089] When the analyzer 145A outputs the selection signal SEL
instructing the enablement of the fourth coefficient calculator
147-5 to the second control circuit 147-1A, the second control
circuit 147-1A transmits the vertically scaled pixels VSP to the
second computation circuit 147-6A.
[0090] The second control circuit 147-1A transmits the enable
signal EN2 to the coefficient calculators 147-2 through 147-5.
Accordingly, only the fourth coefficient calculator 147-5 is
enabled. The fourth coefficient calculator 147-5 generates the
coefficients C5 through C8 for the fourth scaling technique. The
second computation circuit 147-6A receives the vertically scaled
pixels VSP and the coefficients C5 through C8, horizontally scales
the vertically scaled pixels VSP using the coefficients C5 through
C8, and transmits the horizontally scaled pixels HSP.
[0091] FIG. 5 is a diagram of an image stored in the line memory
143 illustrated in FIG. 2 according to some embodiments of the
disclosed subject matter. It is assumed that a fifth scaling
technique is a bi-cubic scaling technique and a sixth scaling
technique is a poly-phase filtered scaling technique for
convenience' sake in the description of the pattern of pixels
illustrated in FIG. 5.
[0092] The bi-cubic scaling technique shows satisfactory
performance for graphics data. However, the bi-cubic scaling
technique does not show satisfactory performance for video data
since it does not satisfactorily process a diagonal portion. The
poly-phase filtered scaling technique satisfactorily processes a
diagonal portion but does not appropriately process a boundary
portion. The poly-phase filtered scaling technique shows
satisfactory performance for video data but does not show
satisfactory performance for graphics data.
[0093] As described above, different types of scaling techniques
have different advantages and disadvantages. Accordingly, the
analyzer 145A may analyze the pattern of pixels stored in the line
memory 143 and generate the selection signal SEL according to the
analysis result.
[0094] FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the operation of the data
processing system 100A according to some embodiments of the
disclosed subject matter. Referring to FIGS. 1 through 9, the CPU
110A in the data processing system 100A sets data in the SFRs 130-1
and 130-2 in operation S110.
[0095] The analyzer 145A reads the data from each of the SFRs 130-1
and 130-2 and determines adaptive change or no-change based on the
data stored in the second SFR 130-2 in operation S112. In various
embodiments, when the data stored in the second SFR 130-2 is "0",
as shown in FIG. 4, the analyzer 145A generates the selection
signal SEL corresponding to the data stored in the first SFR 130-1
without analyzing the pattern of pixels stored in the line memory
143.
[0096] In some embodiments, when the data stored in the second SFR
130-2 is "0" and the data stored in the first SFR 130-1 is "00",
the analyzer 145A transmits the selection signal SEL instructing to
enable the coefficient calculators 141-2 and 147-2 to the control
circuits 141-1A and 147-1A. The control circuits 141-1A and 147-1A
respectively generate the enable signals EN1 and EN2 for enabling
the coefficient calculators 141-2 and 147-2, respectively.
[0097] Accordingly, the vertical scaler 141A vertically scales the
pixels ISP using the coefficients C1 through C8 generated by the
coefficient calculator 141-2. In other words, the vertical scaler
141A vertically scales the pixels ISP using the first scaling
technique.
[0098] The horizontal scaler 147A horizontally scales the
vertically scaled pixels VSP using the coefficients C1 through C8
generated by the coefficient calculator 147-2. In other words, the
horizontal scaler 147A horizontally scales the vertically scaled
pixels VSP using the first scaling technique. Consequently, the
hardware scaler 140A vertically scales the pixels ISP using the
first scaling technique and horizontally scales the vertically
scaled pixels VSP using the first scaling technique in operation
S114.
[0099] In other embodiments, when the data stored in the second SFR
130-2 is "0" and the data stored in the first SFR 130-1 is "10",
the analyzer 145A transmits the selection signal SEL instructing to
enable the coefficient calculators 141-4 and 147-4 to the control
circuits 141-1A and 147-1A. The control circuits 141-1A and 147-1A
respectively generate the enable signals EN1 and EN2 for enabling
the coefficient calculators 141-4 and 147-4, respectively.
[0100] Accordingly, the vertical scaler 141A vertically scales the
pixels ISP using the coefficients C1 through C4 generated by the
coefficient calculator 141-4. In other words, the vertical scaler
141A vertically scales the pixels ISP using the third scaling
technique.
[0101] The horizontal scaler 147A horizontally scales the
vertically scaled pixels VSP using the coefficients C1 through C4
generated by the coefficient calculator 147-4. In other words, the
horizontal scaler 147A horizontally scales the vertically scaled
pixels VSP using the third scaling technique. Consequently, the
hardware scaler 140A vertically scales the pixels ISP using the
third scaling technique and horizontally scales the vertically
scaled pixels VSP using the third scaling technique in operation
S114.
[0102] However, when the data stored in the second SFR 130-2 is "1"
and the data stored in the first SFR 130-1 are "00" and "01", the
analyzer 145A analyzes the pattern of pixels stored in the line
memory 143 in operation S116. When the analyzed pattern is the
second pattern, the analyzer 145A transmits the selection signal
SEL instructing to enable the coefficient calculators 141-3 and
147-3 to the control circuits 141-1A and 147-1A based on the
analyzed pattern and the data "00" and "01" stored in the first SFR
130-1 in operation S118.
[0103] The control circuits 141-1A and 147-1A respectively generate
the signals EN1 and EN2 for enabling the coefficient calculators
141-3 and 147-3, respectively, in operation S120. Accordingly, the
vertical scaler 141A vertically scales the pixels ISP using the
coefficients C1, C3, C5, and C7 generated by the coefficient
calculator 141-3. In other words, the vertical scaler 141A
vertically scales the pixels ISP using the second scaling
technique.
[0104] The horizontal scaler 147A horizontally scales the
vertically scaled pixels VSP using the coefficients C1, C3, C5, and
C7 generated by the coefficient calculator 147-3. In other words,
the horizontal scaler 147A horizontally scales the vertically
scaled pixels VSP using the second scaling technique. Consequently,
the hardware scaler 140A vertically scales the pixels ISP using the
second scaling technique and horizontally scales the vertically
scaled pixels VSP using the second scaling technique in operation
S122.
[0105] FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a hardware scaler 140B and a
data storage device 130B according to other embodiments of the
disclosed subject matter. FIG. 11 is a diagram of data stored in a
third data storage device 130-3 illustrated in FIG. 10.
[0106] Referring to FIG. 10, the hardware scaler 140B includes a
vertical scaler 141A, a line memory 143, an analyzer 145B, and a
horizontal scaler 147A. For convenience' sake in the description, a
CPU 110B, the DMA controller 120, the data storage device 130B, and
the memory 300 are illustrated together with the hardware scaler
140B in FIG. 10. The CPU 110B is another example of the CPU 110
illustrated in FIG. 1, the data storage device 130B is another
example of the data storage device 130 illustrated in FIG. 1, and
the hardware scaler 140B is another example of the scaler 140
illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0107] The data storage device 130B includes the first data storage
device 130-1, the second data storage device 130-2, and the third
data storage device 130-3. The third data storage device 130-3 may
be implemented as a third SFR 130-3.
[0108] As shown in FIG. 11, data set by the CPU 110B in the third
SFR 130-3 may, in one embodiment, indicate a "change mode". For
example, the data set in the third SFR 130-3 may refer to the
number (or size, shape, etc.) of pixels to be interpreted or
analyzed. When the data set in the third SFR 130-3 is "0", the
analyzer 145B may analyze the pattern of pixels in each window (or
portion defined by the value in the third SFR 130-3) and may use a
scaling technique for each window according to the analysis result.
A window may include a group of m*m pixels, where "m" is a natural
number or integer of at least 2. It is understood that the above is
merely one illustrative example to which the disclosed subject
matter is not limited.
[0109] In the illustrated embodiment, when the data set in the
third SFR 130-3 is "1", the analyzer 145B may analyze the pattern
of pixels in units of lines and may change a scaling technique
based upon the units of lines according to the analysis result. For
example, the analyzer 145B may analyze the pattern of pixels per N
(which is a natural number of at least 2, e.g., 4, etc.) lines and
may change a scaling technique every N lines according to the
analysis result. In other words, some of pixels included in N lines
may be included in a window.
[0110] For example, when the resolution of the image IM is
1920*1080 and the number of pixels included in N lines is 4*1080, a
window may include 4*4 pixels. Accordingly, the number of pixels
analyzed by the analyzer 145B may be equal to the number of pixels
stored in the line memory 143 when pixels are analyzed in units of
lines or may be less than the number of pixels stored in the line
memory 143 when pixels are analyzed per window. Accordingly, when
the pixels ISP are stored in the line memory 143, the number of
pixels to be analyzed by the analyzer 145B may be equal to or less
than the number of the pixels ISP.
[0111] The analyzer 145B may determine whether to perform an
adaptive change and, if so, whether to perform the adaptive change
on each window or in units of lines based on data stored in the
first SFR 130-1, data stored in the second SFR 130-2, and data
stored in the third SFR 130-3. When the analyzer 145B performs an
adaptive change, the analyzer 145B may analyze the pattern of
pixels in each window or in units of lines.
[0112] FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a hardware scaler 140C and a
data storage device 130C according to still other embodiments of
the disclosed subject matter. FIG. 13 is a detailed block diagram
of a vertical scaler 141B and a horizontal scaler 147B illustrated
in FIG. 12.
[0113] Referring to FIG. 12, the hardware scaler 140C includes a
vertical scaler 141B, a line memory 143, an analyzer 145C, and a
horizontal scaler 147B. For convenience' sake in the description, a
CPU 110C, the DMA controller 120, the data storage device 130C, and
the memory 300 are illustrated together with the hardware scaler
140C in FIG. 12. The CPU 110C is still another example of the CPU
110 illustrated in FIG. 1, the data storage device 130C is still
another example of the data storage device 130 illustrated in FIG.
1, and the hardware scaler 140C is still another example of the
scaler 140 illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0114] The data storage device 130C includes the first data storage
device 130-1, the second data storage device 130-2, and a fourth
data storage device 130-4. The fourth data storage device 130-4 may
be implemented as a fourth SFR 130-4. The fourth SFR 130-4 may
store coefficients (e.g., vertical scaling coefficients and
horizontal scaling coefficients) generated by the CPU 110C. In the
illustrated embodiment, the data storage device 130C may only
include three total data storage devices (devices 130-1, 130-2, and
130-4, etc.), but the data storage device 130-4 may be referred to
as a fourth data storage device so as not to confuse it with the
third data storage device 130-3 of FIG. 10.
[0115] The analyzer 145C may determine whether to perform an
adaptive change and a type of scaling technique that can support
the adaptive change based on data stored in the first SFR 130-1 and
data stored in the second SFR 130-2. When the analyzer 145C
performs an adaptive change, the analyzer 145C may analyze the
pattern of pixels stored in the line memory 143.
[0116] In various embodiments, the first SFR 130-1 may include data
that dictates the performance of the sixth scaling technique (e.g.,
a poly-phase filtered scaling technique). In such an embodiment,
the vertical scaler 141B and the horizontal scaler 147B perform the
sixth scaling technique in response to the selection signal
SEL.
[0117] Referring to FIGS. 3 through 5, FIGS. 7 and 8 and FIGS. 12
and 13, when the pattern analyzed by the analyzer 145C includes
diagonal portions A1 and A2, the analyzer 145C transmits the
selection signal SEL to control circuits 141-1B and 147-1B.
Accordingly, the vertical scaler 141B and the horizontal scaler
147B perform the sixth scaling technique in response to the
selection signal SEL. The control circuit 141-1B generates the
signal EN1 for disabling the coefficient calculators 141-2 through
141-4 and the control circuit 147-1B generates the signal EN2 for
disabling the coefficient calculators 147-2 through 147-4.
[0118] The first control circuit 141-1B transmits first
coefficients (e.g., vertical scaling coefficients) COEF1 stored in
the fourth SFR 130-4 and the pixels ISP to a first computation
circuit 141-6B in response to the selection signal SEL. The first
computation circuit 141-6B vertically scales the pixels ISP using
the first coefficients COEF1 and transmits the vertically scaled
pixels VSP to the second control circuit 147-1B.
[0119] The second control circuit 147-1B transmits second
coefficients (e.g., horizontal scaling coefficients) COEF2 stored
in the fourth SFR 130-4 and the vertically scaled pixels VSP to a
second computation circuit 147-6B in response to the selection
signal SEL. The second computation circuit 147-6B horizontally
scales the vertically scaled pixels VSP using the second
coefficients COEF2 and outputs the horizontally scaled pixels
HSP.
[0120] The number of the first coefficients COEF1 and the number of
the second coefficients COEF2 may be the same as or different from
each other. The number of the first coefficients COEF1 and the
number of the pixels ISP may be the same as or different from each
other. The number of the second coefficients COEF2 and the number
of the vertically scaled pixels VSP may be the same as or different
from each other.
[0121] The first control circuit 141-1B may generate the enable
signal EN1 in response to the selection signal SEL. The first
control circuit 141-1B may also transmit the pixels ISP to the
first computation circuit 141-6B in response to the selection
signal SEL or may transmit the pixels ISP and the first
coefficients COEF1 to the first computation circuit 141-6B in
response to the selection signal SEL. The first computation circuit
141-6B may vertically scale the pixels ISP using coefficients
calculated by one of the coefficient calculators 141-2 through
141-4 or the first coefficients COEF1 and may output the vertically
scaled pixels VSP.
[0122] The second control circuit 147-1B may generate the enable
signal EN2 in response to the selection signal SEL. The second
control circuit 147-1B may also transmit the vertically scaled
pixels VSP to the second computation circuit 147-6B in response to
the selection signal SEL or may transmit the vertically scaled
pixels VSP and the second coefficients COEF2 to the second
computation circuit 147-6B in response to the selection signal SEL.
The second computation circuit 147-6B may horizontally scale the
vertically scaled pixels VSP using coefficients calculated by one
of the coefficient calculators 147-2 through 147-4 or the second
coefficients COEF2 and may output the horizontally scaled pixels
HSP.
[0123] FIG. 14 is a block diagram of a hardware scaler 140D and a
data storage device 130D according to further embodiments of the
disclosed subject matter. FIG. 15 is a detailed block diagram of a
vertical scaler 141C and a horizontal scaler 147C illustrated in
FIG. 14.
[0124] Referring to FIG. 14, the hardware scaler 140D includes a
vertical scaler 141C, a line memory 143, an analyzer 145D, and a
horizontal scaler 147C. For convenience' sake in the description, a
CPU 110D, the DMA controller 120, the data storage device 130D, and
the memory 300 are illustrated together with the hardware scaler
140D in FIG. 14. The CPU 110D is yet another example of the CPU 110
illustrated in FIG. 1, the data storage device 130D is yet another
example of the data storage device 130 illustrated in FIG. 1, and
the hardware scaler 140D is yet another example of the scaler 140
illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0125] The data storage device 130D includes the first data storage
device 130-1, the second data storage device 130-2, the third data
storage device 130-3, and the fourth data storage device 130-4.
[0126] Each of the scalers 141C and 147C may scale the pixels ISP
or VSP using a scaling technique selected based on data stored in
each of the data storage devices 130-1 through 130-4.
[0127] The structure and operations of the hardware scaler 140D
illustrated in FIG. 14 will be understood referring to the
structure and operations of the hardware scalers 140A, 140B, and
140C described with reference to FIGS. 2 through 13. Thus, detailed
descriptions of the structure and operations of the hardware scaler
140D will be omitted. The operations of control circuits 141-1C and
147-1C are substantially similar to those of the control circuits
141-1A and 147-1A and the operations of computation circuits 141-6C
and 147-6C are substantially similar to those of the computation
circuits 141-6A and 147-6A.
[0128] The first control circuit 141-1C may generate the enable
signal EN1 in response to the selection signal SEL. The first
control circuit 141-1C may also transmit the pixels ISP to the
first computation circuit 141-6C in response to the selection
signal SEL or may transmit the pixels ISP and the first
coefficients COEF1 to the first computation circuit 141-6C in
response to the selection signal SEL. The first computation circuit
141-6C may vertically scale the pixels ISP using coefficients
calculated by one of the coefficient calculators 141-2 through
141-5 or the first coefficients COEF1 and may output the vertically
scaled pixels VSP.
[0129] The second control circuit 147-1C may generate the enable
signal EN2 in response to the selection signal SEL. The second
control circuit 147-1C may also transmit the vertically scaled
pixels VSP to the second computation circuit 147-6C in response to
the selection signal SEL or may transmit the vertically scaled
pixels VSP and the second coefficients COEF2 to the second
computation circuit 147-6C in response to the selection signal SEL.
The second computation circuit 147-6C may horizontally scale the
vertically scaled pixels VSP using coefficients calculated by one
of the coefficient calculators 147-2 through 147-5 or the second
coefficients COEF2 and may output the horizontally scaled pixels
HSP.
[0130] As described above, according to some embodiments of the
disclosed subject matter, a reconfigurable hardware scaler analyzes
the pattern of pixels and adaptively performs one of different
scaling techniques according to the analysis result.
[0131] While the disclosed subject matter has been particularly
shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments
thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the
art that various changes in forms and details may be made therein
without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosed
subject matter as defined by the following claims.
* * * * *